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Last month we welcomed publisher Georgia McBride to the blog to talk about her phenomenal success with Month9Books, which she founded. Today we're pleased to host Georgia again, but this time we're exploring Georgia the author. Listen in to what goes on in the mind and world of one amazing overachiever. And then check out the giveaways below!
Interview with Georgia McBride, A WOW-Wednesday Post
What advice would you give to first-time writers?Read books in the genre and category you want to write in. Read the big books, the ones that are the mega sellers. This will help you learn the market. Take note of what books are being acquired to get a sense of what agents and publishers are interested in and or effectively selling. Know your weaknesses as a writer and read everything you can on craft and or that specific weakness. Agents and editors freely share information on social media and their own blogs and websites about the publishing business as well as their experiences and opinions. Read it. Join writers groups for in-person support, networking, and mentoring. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Don’t assume your first draft will be THE ONE. Write as much as you can as often as you can. It does not have to be perfect. JUST WRITE. If you don’t write, you are not a writer. And if you aren’t a writer, you will never become an author!
What one thing do you feel made the most difference in getting you from aspiring author to published author?
Confidence. I doubted myself for so long. I worried too much about what people in the business would say. I needed (or so I thought), their approval. Turns out, I needed nothing of the sort.
If you could travel back in time to tell/warn newbie writer or newbie author something, what would that be?
For every 1 person who hates your book, there are sure to be 3 who love it – and that doesn’t include YOU or YOUR MOM. There will be an audience for your work. It might be a small one, niche or GIANT one. BUT, there will be one. Of course, if you never release your book, there can be no one who loves it. And yes, I am shouting in ALL CAPS.
What is your writing/revision process? Is it the same for every book, or does it change from book to book?
I like to revise as I write. I will usually write a chapter, then go back and revise it immediately after.
How do you recover from a writing slump or writer’s block?
I have found that writer’s block stems from the need to control the story, rather than letting the story develop organically. If you don’t know what to write, it could well mean you are heading down a wrong plot path – and the block is the Universe’s way of pointing you in a different direction. I see that block as a gift and hope to inspire others to feel the same. As well, writer’s block can also be caused by fear. Don’t let fear rule your writing.
Who do you most look up to in the literary world and why?
I was inspired by Stephanie Meyer when I read her story. She’s a mom, just like me, and she was able to make a career for herself. She wrote during her kids’ practices and whenever she could make time. It helped me do the same and not feel guilty about finding time for myself to do something I love. And, like me, J.K. Rowling was unemployed when she started penning her novel. If she could find the motivation to do so while living in her car and not give up, then so could I, despite family members telling me to give up. So, I have been tremendously inspired by these women, both moms, both told they couldn’t do what they were compelled to do, and both enjoying success beyond their wildest dreams. Finally – I cannot say enough about Maya Angelou and Oprah Winfrey and their influence on my life. Oprah showed the world that people of color do love to read. I’m grateful for that.
What are some of your worst fears when it comes to writing?
I’m always worried that I’ve missed something, or could have done something better, or that readers will hate it.
Did you ever feel like giving up on writing? How did you get past that?
I never wanted to give up, although I don’t have nearly as much time nowadays to write my own books.
What was your biggest obstacle in getting published? How did you get over it?
My biggest obstacle was finding an agent who thought the genre I write in was still viable and that readers would want to read it. It killed my confidence since fantasy, paranormal, and horror is all I care to write. So, I struck back starting my own press for works of this very kind and published my novel through that press.
What is the stupidest thing you’ve ever done as a writer/author? How did you turn it around?
Hmmm. Stupid? Well, I released my book assuming it was going to sell on its own because I had such a great social media following. That was really, really, really stupid. I turned it around by doing live events, signings, podcasts, interviews, etc. I did the hard work!
What do you struggle with the most in writing and/or in real life?
I struggle with balance. I work all the time to the point where I have no time to actually read for pleasure or to read competitive titles in the market. I hope to change that this year!
Do you read your reviews? How do you deal with negative comments and how do they affect you?
I do read reviews. The bad ones really hurt. But sometimes you have to hear those things so you can possibly fix what you got wrong the first time. Sometimes, bad reviews can make a writer better – if they are willing to change and grow.
About the Author:
Georgia McBride is founder of Georgia McBride Media Group, home of Month9Books, Swoon Romance, and Tantrum Books. She develops content for film and TV, and is also a speculative fiction writer. Georgia founded the #YAlitchat hashtag and weekly chat on Twitter in 2009.
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Volunteers from a small town in Missouri have been searching for seventeen-year-old Grace Ann Miller for weeks. Police never mentioned the note she left to say she planned to run away, or her reportedly strange behavior just prior to going missing. They suspect something sinister and more terrifying may be at play.
But Grace Ann Miller is no ordinary runaway. She's found on the estate of international rock star Gavin Vault, half-dressed and yelling for help, and becomes an instant media sensation.
Grace insists on Gavin's innocence, that he didn't harm her as police suspect. But the evidence is overwhelming, and Grace will need a lot more than her word to clear Gavin's name.
So Grace does the one thing she knows will save him. Despite the potential consequences, she tells police the truth: She is an angel. She didn't run away. She left to protect the people she loves.
But authorities believe that Grace is ill, suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, the victim of assault and a severely fractured mind.
Undeterred, Grace reveals the secret existence of angels on earth, an ancient prophecy and a wretched curse that could change everything humans believe about their origins.
But are these the delusions of an immensely sick girl, or could Grace’s story actually be true?
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I'm not sure Georgia McBride needs an introduction, but for the few who aren't aware of her #YALITCHAT hashtag on Twitter and the great stuff she's done in the YA community, and the even fewer who haven't heard how Month9Books is exploding from a boutique publisher to a powerhouse, read below! Georgia has been kind to me from the moment I first stumbled into my first #YALITCHAT and had no clue how to chat, and she's been a constant source of inspiration. We're thrilled to have her on the site with us again! And be sure to check all her great giveaways below!
Martina
Interview with Georgia McBride, Founder and Publisher of Month9Books
Georgia is the founder of #YAlitchat on Twitter, a speculative fiction writer, and founder of Georgia McBride Media Group, home of Month9Books, Swoon Romance, and Tantrum Books. She and or her books and authors have been featured in Publishers Weekly, Publishers Marketplace, Galley Cat, USA Today, Publishing Perspectives, RT Book Reviews, Justine Magazine, Suspense Magazine, Locus Magazine, Hunger Mountain, Huffington Post, CNN, SFWA 2011 Spring Bulletin, and more! She is one of the most prolific editors on Publishers Marketplace, having completed more than 130 publishing deals since March 2012.
After a few years of consulting with publishers, freelance editing, vetting submissions for agents, and running writing contests for folks like St. Martin’s Press and Sourcebooks, I was disappointed by how many good books were getting rejected by big publishers who had grown tired of paranormal and fantasy, or wouldn’t touch science fiction for teens. So, I approached a few writer friends like Michelle Zink, Lisa Matchev, Nancy Holder and others about doing an anthology containing dark retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes. That experience left me with a taste for something more and an affirmation that readers STILL want to read this very material. It was a trial by fire of negotiations with seventeen different literary agents, editing twenty-two stories, finding distribution for the work, and getting it to market. And then, the anthology was optioned for TV, which to me, was further proof of concept. Writers and agents took notice and from that, Month9Books was born.
That was in 2012. What does Month9Books look like today?Month9Books has grown in ways I never would have imagined. We have 46 titles in print and approximately 40 more coming through 2016. Month9Books is now part of Georgia McBride Media Group, a company that is home to two other publishing brands, Swoon Romance, a digital romance line and Tantrum Books, a middle grade whimsical fantasy line. Through Georgia McBride Media Group, I originate content, package books, and develop and sell content into the film and TV markets. Month9Books titles have been optioned for TV/film, including
Dead Jed: Adventures of a Middle School Zombie,
Two and Twenty Dark Tales: Dark Retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes,
Nameless, and
The Undertakers. We are distributed by the oldest and second largest distributor in the country, IPG, and are represented in foreign markets by Susan Schulman Literary Agency. Our works are available in audiobook and throughout the world in the English language.
What titles are you most proud of or excited about?I am proud of all my authors and their books. But there are some titles that are highly anticipated this year, so I will mention those.
The Artisans by Julie A. Reece is an amazing, rich and emotive fantasy with all the feels and a smoking hot book boyfriend to die for. We tried something atypical with its cover and hope readers will connect with this amazing story.
The Artisans on GoodreadsHunted is the follow up to Abi Ketner and Missy Kaliciki’s bestselling book
Branded, which spent four months at Number 1 in Amazon’s Dystopian category and also in its Top 20 Teen Dystopian category, getting as high as No 9. For those four months, it was the only title in the Teen Dystopian category’s Top 20 that is not a TV show or film. Previously self-published in 2013,
Branded, which has sold more than 35,000 units to date, and is poised to continue its successful run in 2015!
Hunted on AmazonTraitor is book 3 in the bestselling
Dragonrider Chronicles series from Nicole Conway. Both
Fledging and
Avian were Amazon No 1 in Children’s Fantasy and also in Dragon Stories. The series has sold roughly 40,000 units to date.
Avian on AmazonAvian on Barnes and NobleSerpentine is a lush, evocative, and richly-drawn historical fantasy that takes place in the legendary Kingdom of Xia. Written by Cindy Pon,
Serpentine is like no fantasy I have ever read. It releases in September.
In the Beginning is our 2015 charity anthology collection of YA dark retellings of biblical stories slated for release in October. Sales of proceeds from the first 500 units will be donated to WriteGirl, who, within a community of women writers, promotes creativity and self-expression to empower girls.
Where do you see your company in five years?I would like to continue expansion into foreign markets as well as continue to develop original titles for film and TV. I see Month9Books growing into a talent and content incubator. I want to be the go-to brand for teen and tween speculative fiction content across all media.
What has been your greatest achievement to date?I am proud of being able to develop content that has proven to be viable in other markets and formats such as film and TV and audio.
Do you accept unagented submissions?We work with over 40 agents. Of course, we do accept unsolicited submissions as well. What kind of YA Lit community activist would I be if we didn’t? Visit month9books.submittable.com to submit.
If you could change one thing about your journey, what would it be?I wish I had decided to start Month9Books sooner, rather than allow myself to be told not to follow my instincts by those in publishing who were supposed to have been in the know.
Where can readers and writers find you and or your books?Our books are available at indie bookstores, larger chains like Barnes and Noble and Books-a-Million, libraries across the country, and of course, online at Amazon, iBooks, etc. In April,
ENDLESS, a historical time travel novel, will be featured as in-flight reading on Southwest Airlines! Around town, you will find our authors at BEA, BookCon, ALA, Teen Author Bootcamp, Dragon Con, YALLWest, and more!
What advice to do you have for anyone who might want to start their own presses?Learn everything you can about the publishing business. You won’t know which rules to break if you don’t know the rules to begin with. Also, align yourself with people you respect and in whom you can trust. Never stop learning, adapting, and growing. Strive to obtain trade and professional memberships. Be yourself. Be fiercely competitive without making enemies. Build YOUR brand, not the recreation of someone else’s. Get a good IP attorney, business attorney, and accountant!
By:
Kelly Hashway,
on 10/19/2014
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Happy Monday! Monday Mishmash is a weekly meme dedicated to sharing what's on your mind. Feel free to grab the button and post your own Mishmash.
Here's what's on my mind today:
- Curse of the Granville Fortune Releases Tomorrow! I can't believe tomorrow is the big day! My middle grade fantasy will be available 10/21.
- Out of the Ashes on Goodreads You can now add Out of the Ashes, book two in the Birth of the Phoenix Series, on Goodreads.
- #IntotheFireChallenge Halloween will be here before you know it, so get your review of Into the Fire up on Amazon to be entered for a chance to become a phoenix in the third book in the Birth of the Phoenix Series. You could also win signed copies of all three books in the series.
- Beth Fred's Writing Class My friend Beth Fred is teaching another class through Colorado Romance Writer. It's called The Art of Blurb Writing. Sign up here.
- Witches Three Tour I signed at Books-A-Million in Exton, PA last Saturday along with Jennifer Murgia and Molly Cochran. Jen and I will be signing at BAM in the Stroud Mall in Stroudsburg, PA this Saturday from 1-3pm. Come see us if you're in the area.
Here are some fun pictures from last Saturday.
That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
By:
Kelly Hashway,
on 10/12/2014
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Happy Monday! Monday Mishmash is a weekly meme dedicated to sharing what's on your mind. Feel free to grab the button and post your own Mishmash.
Here's what's on my mind today:
- #IntotheFireChallenge Extended! I've decided to extend the #IntotheFireChallenge until Halloweeen. That means you have until midnight on Halloween to post a review of Into the Fire on Amazon for a chance to become a Phoenix in the third and final book. Get your review up!
- Monster Madness Blog Hop Vicki Leigh and I are hosting a fun Monster blog hop on Halloween. We'll be talking about our favorite monsters, and of course there will be a giveaway. Want to join the fun? Sign up below and we'll send you all you need for your Halloween post, plus some fun questions for you to answer on your blog.
Loading...- Signing The Monster Within at Books-A-Million in Exton, PA on Saturday. As part of the Three Witches Tour, I'll be signing The Monster Within with Jennifer Murgia and Molly Cochran from 1-3pm.
- Vitamins and Death Cover Reveal Check out the cover of Medeia Sharif's upcoming YA, Vitamins and Death. This book will release December 10th through Prizm Books.
Deidra Battle wants nothing more than to be invisible. After her mother, a public school teacher, engages in an embarrassing teacher-student affair at Lincoln High, they relocate to a different neighborhood and school. Being her mother’s briefcase, Deidra joins her mother at her new workplace, Hodge High.
Since her mother has reverted to her maiden name and changed her appearance, Deidra thinks no one will figure out they’re the Battles from recent news and that they’re safe. Neither of them is. Hodge brings a fresh set of bullies who discover details about the scandal that changed her life.
Feeling trapped at home with an emotionally abusive, pill-addicted mother and at school with hostile classmates who attempt to assault and blackmail her, Deidra yearns for freedom, even if she has to act out of character and hurt others in the process. Freedom comes at a price. - The Walking Dead Who watched the season premier last night? Oh, and my PA made this for me and I love it. Touch of Death was pitched as The Walking Dead meets Shatter Me.
That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
Happy Monday! Monday Mishmash is a weekly meme dedicated to sharing what's on your mind. Feel free to grab the button and post your own Mishmash.
Here's what's on my mind today:
- Into the Fire Hit 3 Amazon Best Seller Lists! So, I'm still smiling over this one. Just look! And thank you a million times over to everyone who bought a copy of the book. This means so much to me.
- Just Kelly-New YouTube Video Series I've decided that in addition to my usual videos with book teasers and such, I'm going to do a series called "Just Kelly" where I'll share things about myself. Here's video number one, which happens to be my useless talents. Enjoy!
- I joined Instagram Okay, so I didn't realize that this is the place for YA readers to hang out, but that was recently shared with me. So I thought I'd give it a try. You can find me here.
- Linking Accounts For a while I've been tossing around the idea of linking my social media accounts so when I post to one, it posts to multiple accounts for me. Well, it was a great idea until I forgot which account posted to which other account and wound up with multiple posts in the same place. *sigh* I think I've gotten it straightened out with the help of a cheat sheet. ;)
- The Darkness Within Cover Guys, I got to see the finalized cover for The Darkness Within (the sequel to The Monster Within) and I'm so in love with it. I can't wait until this cover reveal!
That's it for me. What's on your mind today.
If you've been following my blog for a while, you've probably noticed a book called Into the Fire in my side bar. You may have also noticed that the cover has changed slightly.
Yes, that's right. It now has my Ashelyn Drake romance pen name on the book as well. Why you ask? Well, to answer that question, I'd like to share the Dear Reader letter I wrote at the start of the book.
Dear Reader,
When I set out to write Into the Fire, I thought I was writing a paranormal novel. But after I witnessed Cara and Logan together, I soon realized I wasn’t just writing a story about a Phoenix trying to save her kind. I was writing a love story. And the further I got into the novel, the more it became obvious that the book was equal parts paranormal and romance. In essence, you could remove the paranormal and have a straightforward romance, or remove the romance and have a full-fledged paranormal novel. Honestly, I prefer the blend of the two, but the tricky part became how to brand this particular series.
As many of you know, I write under two names. Kelly Hashway is my speculative fiction name, and Ashelyn Drake is my contemporary romance pen name. When it came to deciding which name should be on the cover of Into the Fire, there was really only one answer: both. For a book that is so clearly two genres, I need both my names. I hope that everyone who reads the book will agree and see why I chose to blend the names I write under.
So for the Kelly Hashway fans, I can promise you will get a Kelly Hashway paranormal novel that you are accustomed to, and Ashelyn Drake fans will get the kind of romance they are used to. It’s the best of both worlds, something for everyone.
Thank you for picking up Into the Fire. I hope you fall in love with Cara and Logan the way I have, and that you root for Cara and the Phoenixes as they fight for their lives against the Hunters.
Yours truly,
Kelly Hashway/Ashelyn Drake
The ebook will actually release through Swoon Romance, while the paperback edition will release through Month9Books. We're embracing both genres fully, and I love it. Another change is that it was previously listed on Goodreads as a Kelly Hashway title, but it now appears as an Ashelyn Drake title. If you'd like to add it, you can find it here.
Witches must choose the path they will follow, and Darlena Agara is no exception. She’s been putting it off long enough, and in her case, ignoring it has not made it go away. In a moment of frustration, Darlena chooses to follow Red Magic, figuring she had outsmarted the powers that be, since there’s no such thing as Red Magic. But alas, Darlena’s wrong (again) and she becomes a newly declared Red Witch.
Her friends are shocked and her parents horrified by the choice Darlena has made. As a Red Witch, she now governs one third of the world’s chaos. She is the walking personification of pandemonium, turmoil, and bedlam, just as the patrons of Red Magic would have it to be.
But Darlena believes there must be more to Red Magic than chaos and destruction, and she sets out on a journey to achieve balance. Only doing so puts her at odds with the dark goddess Hecate, who simply will not allow Darlena to quit. She encourages Darlena to embrace who and what she is and to leave good magic to the good witches. If only Darlena could, life would be simple, and she would not be the Daughter of Chaos.
My thoughts:I liked Darlena from the start. She thinks she can outsmart Hecate, and for me that just spelled guts right there. Of course it backfires and she winds up pledging herself to Red Magic, which she didn't even know existed. Still, Darlena seems suited for Red Magic and the fact that Hecate wants her means she has a lot of power. Unfortunately, that power makes her a very sought after witch. Darlena doesn't know who to trust or how to use her Red Magic for good, and she winds up on a journey she never could have imagined.
Witches and Greek gods! This seriously couldn't get any better. I have a weird obsession with Hades, and he was awesome in this story. I tore through this book, loving every second and being totally invested in Darlena and her future. McConnel has a winner with Daughter of Chaos and in my opinion, book two can't get here fast enough. If you enjoy witch books, go get Daughter of Chaos now!
By:
Kelly Hashway,
on 6/3/2014
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BEA!!! Okay, I still haven't come down from my BEA high. This is seriously my favorite event. Why? Because I always get to hang out with really awesome writers and bloggers and publishing people. Man, I love my job.
So, here's a recap of my BEA 2014 experience:
First, check out the awesome Spencer Hill Press signing chart. (Do you see my name?)
And here I am signing The Monster Within ARCs. Photo courtesy of the very awesome Miss Dvora Gelfond.
Fellow horror writer Charles Day stopped by to get an ARC of The Monster Within.
I got really amazing triquetra necklaces for my book, which we raffled off in baskets and during the signing. I don't think I'm ever taking mine off. It's so pretty!
And here's the beautiful Jennifer Allis Provost who made the triquetra necklaces for me because she's that awesome.
Brooke Delvecchio is one of the most adorable people ever. I love her.
Here I am with Richard Shealy, one of my copy editors.Here I am with Jessica Porteous, Lisa Amowitz, and Elizabeth Langston.My agency sister, Vicki Merkel, attended my signing.
Vikki Ciaffone is not my editor at SHP but I love her.And I got to meet Eliza Tilton in person finally too! And I met J.A. Ward.
I also had a signing as Ashelyn Drake for my upcoming YA contemporary Perfect For You. Swoon Romance was awesome about getting people to stop by my booth to pick up signed postcards and talk about the book. I also had two amazing dancers (Yes, I said dancers.) bringing people in. A special thanks to Dorothy Dryer and Dan Cohen. You two are the best cheerleaders ever!
After knowing Rachel Harris online for years we got to meet in person!
Okay, and this has nothing to do with my signings or meeting people, BUT… I finally got to see Rick Riordan!!! Thank you to Dan Cohen for making sure I got a picture of Rick this time.
AND…I got Becca Fitzpatrick's new book! Yay! I'm so excited to read it. I loved the Hush, Hush series. I have to thank Dan Cohen for this one too because he totally snagged me a copy early and I didn't even have to wait in line.
I had to leave early on Saturday because the train schedule changed and we are having work done on our house and had to be home for it. I was sad to go and am already counting the days until BEA 2015!
By:
Kelly Hashway,
on 4/27/2014
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1. Monroe County Book Expo Thanks to everyone who came out for the Monroe County Book Expo. I had a great time. This was my third and final author appearance this month and it was a great way to close out April.
2. The Monster Within Goodreads Giveaway Spencer Hill Press is giving away TWO copies of The Monster Within on Goodreads. Enter here.
3. The Monster Within Monster Giveaway To celebrate the upcoming release of The Monster Within, I'm hosting a Monster Giveaway! Want to be part of it? The giveaway will run from May 16th to June 17th and you can post anywhere within those dates. Sign up in the form below.
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4. Stone of Destiny by Laura Howard Congrats to Laura Howard on her newest release, Stone of Destiny. Isn't this cover gorgeous?
Allison thought it was crazy enough when she found out her father, Liam, wasn't entirely human. But now she has to join his magical allies to unravel his former mistress's plans. Aoife wants to keep Allison's parents apart forever.
Despite Allison's efforts to keep Ethan, the only guy she's ever cared about, out of this supernatural mess, fate keeps throwing him back into the mix.
Will Allison be able to find the amulet that holds the enchantment Aoife placed on Liam and destroy it? Are Ethan' s feelings for Allison strong enough to endure the magic of the Tuatha De Danaan?
5. Snip, Snip Revenge by Medeia Sharif Congrats to Medeia on the release of her latest YA novel!
Beautiful, confident Tabby Karim has plans for the winter: nab a role in her school’s dramatic production, make the new boy Michael hers, and keep bigoted Heather—with her relentless Ay-rab comments—at bay. When a teacher’s lie and her father’s hastiness rob her of her beautiful hair, her dreams are dashed. The fastest barber in Miami Beach has made her look practically bald.
With all her pretty hair gone, Tabby doesn’t believe she fits the feminine role she’s auditioning for. Michael is still interested in her, but he’s playing it cool. Heather has taken to bullying her online, which is easier to do with Tabby’s ugly haircut. Tabby spearheads Operation Revenge, which proves satisfying until all of her problems deepen. After messing up, she sets to make things right.
Join Medeia's giveaway to celebrate the release of her latest novel.
a Rafflecopter giveawayThat's it for me. What's on your mind today?
By:
Kelly Hashway,
on 4/20/2014
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Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:
1. YA Fest On Saturday, I attended YA Fest with 49 other authors. It was crazy awesome. I got to meet my Month9Books family who I've talked to online but never met in person before.
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| Pab Sungenis, Jackie Kessler, Me, Jen McConnel, Janice Bashman, and Donna Gallanti |
I also finally met Jennifer Armentrout in person, which was awesome since she blurbed my Touch of Death series for me.
Kate Kaynak photo bombed a picture, giving Lisa Amowitz bunny ears. ;)
So, I took a picture with Kate.
The lovely Kimberly Miller was nice enough to take a picture of me at my table.
I got a nice surprise when my friend and fellow author, Beth Consugar, showed up. We'd never met in person before.
Here's me with YA Fest founder, Jennifer Murgia, who happened to blurb The Monster Within for me.And here I am with the totally sweet Jen McConnel. Seriously, what a sweetheart!
And that's probably way more pictures than you wanted to see, but I had an absolute blast and had to share.
2. Monroe County Book Expo I'll be at the Hughes branch of the Eastern Monroe County Library on Saturday from 10am-3pm signing copies of all my books, PB through YA, and my Ashelyn Drake title, Campus Crush.
3. Editing I'm editing for clients this week along with working on revisions for two of my books. April has been such a busy month for me.
That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
I'm not posting a Monday Mishmash because the one thing on my mind is BEA! I don't even know where to start because BEA blew me away. First, I have amazing publishers. Everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) from both houses was absolutely sweet and personable. I'm going to explain things with some photos for you too. :)
I met some really awesome Spencer Hill Press people, like:
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Me with Kate Kaynak, owner of Spencer Hill Press
Yes, it's blurry, but I swear it's because Kate is so busy she never stands still. ;) |
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| Timothy Miller signing his book Awoken for me! |
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| Me with Sherry Ficklin, author of Extracted |
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| Me with Tyler Jolley, Author of Extracted with Sherry Ficklin |
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| Dan Cohen with me at my signing for Stalked by Death |
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| Rich Storrs (A.K.A. "The Closer") with me at my signing |
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| Me with Trisha Wooldridge, my editor for the Touch of Death series |
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| Lisa Amowitz, Kimberly Miller, Michelle Pickett, Jennifer Allis Provost, me, and Dorothy Dreyer (the Scene13 girls) |
My signing was surreal. When I showed up after my author breakfast (which was also extremely cool) I had a line of people waiting for me. I sort of stared in disbelief for a while. I wish I took a picture of the line. The awesome ladies at Swoony Boys Podcast showed up with a gift for me, which was so sweet of them. Also, Donna from School Library Journal came to get Stalked by Death. She introduced herself and I profusely thanked her for the great review she did for Touch of Death in the March issue of SLJ. She took a picture with me and said she'd review Stalked by Death, too. I got a little choked up over that. |
| George Klutz, fellow ICL member, came to see me |
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| Me with Brooke DelVecchio, who was awesome enough to get Stalked by Death on Friday and come back with her copy of Touch of Death on Saturday to have me sign it. :) |
And my Month9Books family was there too!
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| Heather Reid (author of Pretty Dark Nothing) and me |
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| Me getting a signed copy of Gabriel Stone from Shannon Duffy |
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| Georgia McBride (owner of Month9Books) and me |
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| Dorothy Dreyer (author of My Sister's Reaper), Lisa Basso (author of A Shimmer of Angels), and me |
And here are some other awesome people:
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| Lauren Hammond (my agent) and me |
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| LM Preston, Lauren Hammond, me, and Lisa Amowitz |
And I got in trouble for trying to get this picture of Jim Carrey, but this was my third shot and I got him!
And here's my view as I sadly exited the building. I'm already counting down to next year. I will definitely be back.
Since it's Monday, please let me know what's on your mind.
I'm so excited to have my Month9Books publishing house sister Heather Reid with me today. Ever since seeing Heather's gorgeous cover and reading the blurb, I've been dying to get my hands on Pretty Dark Nothing.
Seventeen-year-old Quinn hadn’t slept a full night in twenty-three days. She’s terrified of the demons that stalk her dreams, pull her into a deep dark nothingness and whisper hauntingly of her death. Exhausted, Quinn dozes off in the school hallway, and Aaron, an amnesiac with a psychic ability, accidentally enters her nightmare. If Quinn can learn to trust her heart, and Aaron can discover the secret locked away in his fragile memory, their combined power could banish the darkness back to the underworld for good. That is, unless the demons kill them first.
Heather L. Reid is both American and British and has called six different cities in three different countries, home. Her strong sense of wanderlust and craving for a new adventure mean you might find her wandering the moors of her beloved Scotland, exploring haunted castles, or hiking through a magical forest in search of fairies and sprites. When she’s not venturing into the unknown in her real life, she loves getting lost in the worlds of video games or curling up by the fire with good story. For now, this native Texan is back in the Lone Star State, settling down with her Scottish husband and dreaming up new novels to write.
Find Heather on Twitter: @HeatherLReid and check out her website: www.heatherlreid.com.
Take it away, Heather! An Interpretation of Dreams
"Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before."
Edgar Allan Poe
Last night, fireworks exploded in the sky around our house. Millions of red and blue lights streaked across the night sky. The windows rattled from the concussion echoing across the neighbourhood and I was frightened. I ran for my husband and begged him to wake up. Something strange was going on and we needed to get out of here. Turning on the news, we were shocked to find entire cities had been destroyed by an eerie green death ray (think War of The Worlds). The Earth was under attack and all we could do was watch the devastation play out around us. That’s when I woke myself up.
I’ve always been a vivid dreamer. As a child, I suffered from night terrors and sleep walking. Although I eventually grew out of the sleep walking, the nightmares never went away. I would dream of faceless entities and demons on a reoccurring basis. I spent my pre-teen years trying to rationalize my fear while I spent my nights huddled under my covers with a book and a flash light afraid to fall asleep for fear of what would greet me in my dreams. There were even nights I suffered from severe and terrifying sleep paralysis as well as out of body experiences.
When I got older, I started to control my dreams instead of letting my dreams control me. As I slept, I became aware that I was dreaming and would make choices to change the outcome. Sometimes I would choose to run from whatever was chasing me, or sometimes I would stop the dream and change it completely. It wasn’t until I started reading books about dreams and dream interpretation that I found out about lucid dreaming and became fascinated with the meaning of dreams. Keeping a dream journal helped me reflect on what was going on in my everyday life that might affect me. It helped me take control and understand what my unconscious was trying to tell me. I still have nightmares every now and then, but I understand them now, and I rarely wake up in a cold sweat anymore.
Want to know about lucid dreaming, false awakenings, and dream interpretation? Check out some of these links.
Are you a lucid dreamer? What are your thoughts on the meanings of dreams?
By:
Kelly Hashway,
on 5/19/2013
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Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:
- Scholastic Book Fair I'm working the Scholastic Book Fair at my daughter's school again this week. Even though I just placed an online order, I'm sure I'll be buying more books.
- Cricket's Drive Around Town This weekend I got the color illustrations for my upcoming picture book and they blew my mind. This book is going to be so adorable!
- Into the Fire I just sent my edits off to my editor this past weekend for Into the Fire, which is coming in January 2014 through Month9Books. And I updated my FB author page so the gorgeous cover is on there. :)
- Stalked by Death ARC My Stalked by Death ARC arrived on Saturday! Squee! I thought I wasn't getting it until BEA, so I'm really excited to get to hold my pretty book!
- Advantage: Heartbreak Less than 10 days until the release of Advantage: Heartbreak, novella #2 in the Game. Set. Match. Heartbreak series. Yay!
That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:
- Birthday Party Yesterday was my daughter's birthday party. Lots of fun.
- Sweets Blogfest The Sweets Blogfest is Wednesday, March 6. I'm looking forward to it. Be sure to stop back for a chance to win some sweet books.
- YALitChat Debut Author Chat I'm a guest on tonight's YALitChat Twitter chat at 9pm (EST). I hope you'll stop by to chat.
- Stalked by Death The release date for Stalked by Death was pushed back a few weeks to August 13, 2013, but you can now pre-order it on Amazon and B&N.
- Into the Fire is on Goodreads! My YA paranormal, Into the Fire, releasing spring 2014 through Month9Books is now up on Goodreads. Woo hoo! You can add it to your TBR list here. And here's the description for you:
Sixteen-year-old Cara Tillman, a descendant from the mythical phoenix bird, is nearing her rebirth where she will forget everything, including the love of her life, Logan, and attempts to embrace her last days with him even if it means drawing deadly phoenix hunters to her doorstep.
*My free monthly newsletter comes out at 5pm (EST) today. If you aren't signed up but would like to receive on, you can sign up here.
That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
Hi, everyone! I'm really excited today because I have Shannon Duffy with me. She's my publishing house sister, a great friend, and the author of the middle grade novel Gabriel Stone and the Divinity of Valta, which released yesterday from Month9Books.
First, here's the synopsis and my review of Gabriel:
Synopsis:Gabriel Stone is a twelve-year-old boy still reeling from the unsolved disappearance of his mother. With a dad who’s hard to relate to, and mounting pressures at school, Gabriel lets off steam by hiking in the place where his mother was last seen. There, Gabe and friends find a crystal that proves not only beautiful, but magical beyond their wildest dreams. Only, magic and beauty come with a price: in order to return home, they must save the dying world of Valta.
My thoughts:Gabriel is a very likable character that made me feel for him right from the start. And his two best friends, Piper and Brent are so much fun, especially with the way they bicker with each other. Gabriel is desperate to find out what happened to his mother, but instead he finds a whole other world, a world that is going to die unless Gabriel can find the divinities and save them all.
The creatures Duffy cooked up in the book are amazing. I mean look at the flying tiger on the cover! I also loved that everything in Valta is the opposite of Gabriel's world, which makes navigating a little... backwards. The three friends meet a great cast of characters on their journey and they learn a lot about themselves on the way.
This is a great adventure with characters you'll want to read more about, and you can in the rest of the series.
Please welcome, Shannon Duffy!
Hi, Shannon! Okay, I have to ask, of all the great creatures in Valta, who's your favorite?That's soooo tough to answer! Of course I love Gabriel cause he's based on my son. And Brent is based on my awesome newphew so love him too. Loove Piper's spunk. But I have to say I really do love Finley the monkey. He's just so cute and sweet that I wish I could get some magic dust to make him real and bring him home with me. hehe
I know your son's name is Gabriel. How similar is he to the Gabriel in your book?I have to say a lot. My son will kill me for saying this, but he is the same with the horror movies. He's so interested to watch them, but when it gets dark he wants to then sleep in my room. I don't let him watch them anymore....and he does sleep with a nightlight, but hey, so do I. LOL And my Gabe is based on the Gabe in the book as far as looks too, and he has a strong, leader type personality I'd say. So, yeah, he's a lot like Gabriel in the book. :)
Which of your characters would you not want to meet in a dark alley?Duke Malgor for one. He is just pure evil and doesn't care who he has to step on to get what he wants.
Can you tell us anything about the second book in the series?Well you can expect Gabriel, Brent, and Piper to return to Valta to go on another different, but very important (and dangerous) quest. You'll see the return of some familiar characters and be introduced to some new cool ones, too.
Just for fun:Favorite animal: Dogs--I have three.Best comfort food: Hmmm French Fries.Superpower you wish you had: To heal people.
Thanks for coming by today, Shannon!Thanks so much, Kelly for inviting me to your blog today!
~Shannon
Shannon Duffy grew up on the beautiful east coast of Canada, and now lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and son, Gabriel. She’s mom to one boy, and several pets. Shannon loves writing, reading, working out, soccer, and the sport of champions: shopping. Shannon Duffy is available for quotes, signings, video or podcast appearances, and all opportunities relative to GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA.
GABRIEL STONE AND THE WRATH OF THE SOLARIAN, Book 2 in the Gabriel Stone series will be available from Month9Books in February 2014!
ABOUT MONTH9BOOKS:
Month 9 Books is a publisher of speculative fiction for teens and tweens… where nothing is as it seems. Month9Books will donate proceeds from each of its annual charity anthologies to a deserving charity. Individually, authors may donate his or her advances and royalties to a charitable organization. Month9Books will also release 10-12 non-charitable titles annually.GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA is Month9Books’s first Middle Grade release. Month9Books is distributed by Small Press United, a division of IPG. You may visit www.month9books.com for more information. Goodreads GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15841297-gabriel-stone-and-the-divinity-of-valta Feel free to leave a comment for Shannon or answer my "Just for fun" questions.
Today I have Lissa Basso, author of the YA novel A Shimmer of Angels with me!
Sixteen-year-old Rayna sees angels, and has the medication and weekly therapy sessions to prove it. Now, in remission, Rayna starts fresh at a new school, lands a new job, and desperately tries for normalcy. She ignores signs that she may be slipping into the world she has tried so hard to climb out of. But these days, it’s more than just hallucinations that keep Rayna up at night. Students are dying, and she may be the only one who can stop it. Can she keep her job, her sanity, and her friends from dying at the hands of angels she can't admit to seeing?
Welcome, Lisa! I’m happy to have you here today to talk about your recent release, A Shimmer of Angels, which I loved!
Thanks so much for having me! *does virtual back flips for the crowd*
I’m a big fan of angel books, but I can imagine you had to do a lot of research. Can you tell us a little about the research you had to do for this book?
Should I begin at the beginning? *snort* Okay. First I started with a little angel research: names, legends, myths, bible verses, anything angel-related I could pull out of the library and internets (yes, internets). As you can imagine, this took a lot of time to sift through. After that was done, I turned my attention to my main character, Rayna, and her past, mainly doing research on mental health facilities, psychology, and current mental health laws. All the time I put into the research phase was well worth it when I started writing. But no matter how thorough your research, there's always something else that comes up. :)
Rayna has a gift but it’s mistaken for an illness at first, and wow does it enhance the story line. How did you come up with the idea to have her family think she’s mentally ill?
I knew Ray was going to be the only one on Earth able to see the angels. Since her world is grounded in the real world, I thought about how a real family would handle that. They'd be concerned at first, and when Ray's actions became more erratic and she started coming unhinged, her dad would have no choice but to have her checked out by a doctor and put her in therapy. The ideas grew from there.
You have two angels in this book who get Rayna’s attention. I couldn’t decide who I liked more, Cam or Kade. Did you want your reader to have just as hard a time choosing between them as Rayna? How did you go about accomplishing this?
I so did. When I first got to know Cam and Kade (during the character interviews) I fell (pun intended). Hard. I loved them both so much. And when I put Rayna into scenes with both of them, I noticed how much she took her own shine to each boy. I've read a lot of YA books with love triangles. Most of the time you can guess exactly who the main character is going to choose. I love mystery, so I wanted to keep the reader guessing. To do that, I introduced Cam and Kade in ways that showed peeks into both their good and not-so-gravy sides. I wanted the reader to get to know both of them before Ray's decision swayed them in either direction. I don't think I'll ever get tired of hearing "Team Cam" and "Team Kade".
Okay, well I'm Team Both because I love them both!
Just for fun:
Angel or fallen angel? Hmmm. Probably Fallen angel. ;)
Describe A Shimmer of Angels in three words: Mystery. Psychology. Angels.
If you had wings for a day, what would you do? I would fly. Normally I hate flying (in planes), but if I'm in charge and I know how to work those suckers, I'm taking my new wings out for as many spins as I can manage before they disappear. Or I pass out from exhaustion.
Thanks for being here today, Lisa.
This has been great! Thank you again so much for having me, Kelly!
That's not all. You can enter to win a copy of A Shimmer of Angels, a messenger bag, stainless water bottle, journal, keychain, and postcard pack. This is open to US and Canada only. Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck.
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By:
Kelly Hashway,
on 12/25/2012
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Before I think about my goals for 2013, I want to take a minute to recap the positive things about 2012. (No need to relive the negative, right?) First, let me say that at the end of 2011, I didn't think 2012 would ever top it. 2011 was the year I found my agent, my first picture book came out, and I got my first book deal with Spencer Hill Press. I thought 2012 would never compare. Boy was I wrong. So here I go!
- I signed another two-book deal with Spencer Hill Press for The Monster Within and The Darkness Within (releasing in 2014).
- I signed a four-book deal with Month9Books for my debut middle grade series, Curse of the Granville Fortune (releasing in 2016).
- I signed a three-book deal with Month9Books for my Birth of the Phoenix Series. (The first book, Into the Fire, releases spring 2014.)
- I sold my three-book novella series Game. Set. Match. Heartbreak. to Swoon Romance. (The first book Love All releases 1/8/13.)
- I held Touch of Death in my hands and cried. Here's video evidence.
- Touch of Death released on ebook on December 23.
- I signed on many new editing clients.
- I started editing for another book publisher.
- I got a new puppy.
- I survived my daughter starting all-day kindergarten. (This might have been the toughest goal I achieved.)
- I had my one-year blogiversary and met some amazing online friends.
- I started reviewing over on YA Bound.
Wow! 2012 was a great year.
Now it's your turn. What's your good news from 2012?
I've been tagged by the amazing Catherine Stine for the Next Big Thing. Thanks, Catherine! So here I go!
What's the working title of your book?
INTO THE FIRE
Where did the idea come from for the book?
I've loved the idea of Phoenixes ever since I saw the original Dark Shadows TV series from the 70s. (I saw it in reruns.) There were only about two episodes that featured Phoenixes but they got to me.
What genre does your book fall under?
Paranormal
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie?
I'd say Candice Accola (Caroline on The Vampire Diaries) for Cara. And Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson) for Logan.
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Sixteen-year-old Cara Tillman, a descendant from the mythical phoenix bird, is nearing her rebirth where she will forget everything, including the love of her life, Logan, and attempts to embrace her last days with him even if it means drawing deadly phoenix hunters to her doorstep.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
I'm represented by Lauren Hammond of ADA Management and the book is being published by Month9Books in spring 2014.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
8 days, but I made a major change in edits so I'm rewriting most of it. LOL
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I can't think of another Phoenix book!
What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?
Phoenixes! They die and are reborn. What more do you need? ;)
Here are the people I'm tagging:
Sheri Larsen
Darcy Karchut
Emily White
Now for all of you, what's your WIP about?
Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:
- Thank you! Thank you to everyone for celebrating my new 3-book deal with Month9Books. I'm really excited about Into the Fire.
- The Monster Within edits First round edits are finished and back in the hands of my amazing editor at Spencer Hill Press. :)
- Fast Drafting I broke my own record and drafted 80K in 8 days. Yeah, I'm tired now.
- Catching up on my reading I've been so busy the past two weeks that my reading suffered. I'm looking forward to getting back to my normal schedule again.
- Book Fair I helped out with the Scholastic Book Fair at my daughter's school last week and spent way too much money. LOL
That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
*And congratulations to Ruth S. for winning Beth Fred's giveaway last week!
Today I have double the celebration. First, my agency sister, publishing house sister, and dear friend, Trisha Wolfe has a gorgeous cover for her upcoming novel, FIREBLOOD, coming in October through Spencer Hill Press.
Here it is!
Fireblood
To save a kingdom, Zara must choose between a prince who could be the answer and a rising rebellion that threatens to take control.
When Zara Dane is chosen to marry Prince Sebastian Hart, son of the man who ordered her father's capture, Zara knows she must fight to save everything she loves from ruin.
Being betrothed to the prince means a life trapped behind the towering stone walls of the Camelot-forged realm. Under the watchful eye of the prince's first knight, Sir Devlan Capra, changing her future becomes difficult.
When an unlikely rebel reveals the truth about the deadly secrets that fuel King Hart's twisted world, Zara's path to rescue her father becomes clouded by deception. The Rebels clear her path by forcing Zara's hand with an ultimatum: sway Prince Sebastian to join the Rebels, convincing him of his father's evil nature, or they will take him out.
But Zara is uncertain about a future under the Rebels' command and where the prince's heart truly lies. She must decide who to trust, what to believe, and what she's truly fighting for before the king destroys all of Karm, including her heart .
Title: Fireblood
Author: Trisha Wolfe
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press (www.spencerhillpress.com) Please feel free to use any images, text, links, etc. from our website. ISBN: 978-1-937053-59-8
Release Date: October 8, 2013
Formats: Paper, e-book
My second bit of good news is that I've signed another 3-book deal with Month9Books! Here's the Publisher's Marketplace announcement:
TOUCH OF DEATH author Kelly Hashway's INTO THE FIRE, in which sixteen-year-old Cara Tillman, a descendant from the mythical phoenix bird, is nearing her rebirth where she will forget everything, including the love of her life, Logan, and attempts to embrace her last days with him even if it means drawing deadly phoenix hunters to her doorstep, to Georgia McBride at Month9Books in a 3-book deal, in a pre-empt for publication in Spring 2014 by LaurenHammond of ADA Management Group (World).
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